🚗 Happy Memorial Day!

TOGETHER WITH

Happy Memorial Day, Friend! 🇺🇸

We hope your day is full of freedom, food, and maybe a few folks walking the lot with a burger in one hand and a payment calculator in the other.

Everybody celebrates their own way. Isn’t that what we’re celebrating today, anyway??

Keep Pushing Back,
-Paul, Kyle, Chris & Kristi

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THE NEWS

California, Tariffs, and Solid-State

🇺🇸 CALIFORNIA GAS BAN REPEALED

The Senate just torched California’s 2035 gas car ban. That means no forced 35% EV sales by 2026 and more breathing room for ICE models. Don’t ditch your EV plans—but you’ve got time to be smart about it.

🇯🇵 TARIFF TROUBLE BREWS

Trump’s new tariffs are squeezing Japanese suppliers, and automakers may pass those costs down the chain. Subaru’s already hiked U.S. prices. Supply chain friction could tighten—keep an eye on parts costs and potential delays.

📈 XPENG'S STOCK SURGE

Chinese EV maker Xpeng is on a heater—66% stock jump and triple the deliveries forecast. U.S. EV pricing could feel the heat. Be ready for customers asking, “Why not this one?”

🚙 VW’S $27K EV TAKES SHAPE

Volkswagen’s ID.2 is almost here. Sub-$30K, 280-mile range, and it looks like a Golf with a retro dash. Real competition for budget buyers could arrive by 2026.

🔋 BMW TESTS SOLID-STATE BATTERIES

BMW’s solid-state i7 is real—but you won’t sell one this decade. Customers might ask, though. Steer them toward the Gen6 benefits that matter now: more range, faster charge, and lower cost.

➕ More

Read more on these stories in our Daily Digest

🥊 Quick Hits

• Veo 3 can generate videos and soundtracks to go along with them. 🤖 

• U.S. jobless claims dropped to a 4-week low on Friday. 📉 

• They’re making contacts that look different. No not appear different, “Look” different. Like Infrared night vision. 🔦 

TOGETHER WITH UPSTART

Smarter Financing, Real Results

At ASOTU CON, Danielle Mills Walden spoke with Evan Driscoll from Audi Jacksonville to talk about something making a real impact: AI-powered financing.

Two years after implementing Upstart, Evan put it simply: “It’s like two clicks and I can have a car deal approved.”

That kind of speed matters when buyers expect answers fast. But it’s not just about time; it’s about increased approvals, higher profitability, and making things easier for both the finance team and customer.

Danielle wrote a recap packed with actionable insights from someone who’s seen the impact live in the showroom.

Check out Danielle’s full article here!

DATA & INSIGHT

Who's Winning the Future of Auto Retail?

Steve Greenfield lit up the ASOTU CON main stage with a rapid-fire breakdown of what’s coming for car dealers—and who’s going to win.

From EVs and tariffs to AI, fixed ops, and the China threat, this keynote was less TED Talk and more tactical war map.

Spoiler: The dealer model is durable, defensible, and still the best game in town—if you adapt.

We broke it down in 500 words, no fluff.

AROUND THE ASOTU-VERSE

Bigger Wins with Bigger Data

While others brace for seasonal slowdowns, StoneEagle’s data tells a different story: F&I profitability is surging with April numbers even outperforming post-COVID highs.

Dealers leaning into smarter strategies are seeing real, measurable wins, and StoneEagle is pulling back the curtain on how it’s happening.

🚘 Smarter Packaging, Bigger Gains: From bundling the right coverages to adjusting for affordability, data-driven personalization is driving higher penetration and customer satisfaction. Dealers who align products with what buyers actually want are coming out ahead.

📡 Real-Time Data, Real-Time Wins: StoneEagle’s real-time insights empower F&I teams to pivot quickly in the face of changing conditions—keeping offerings sharp, relevant, and effective.

StoneEagle unpacks the full story—and the strategies behind it—in an exclusive 30-minute webinar. See what’s working, why it’s working, and how to apply it to your store.

Register here to secure you spot today!

🔁 Today in History

• 1896: Charles Dow publishes the first edition of the Dow Jones Industrial Average. 📈 

• 1927: The 15 millionth Ford Model T is produced. 🧑‍🏭 

• 1998: The first "National Sorry Day" is held in Australia. Reconciliation events are held nationally and attended by over a million people. 🙇